Synonyms of description

description

noun

di-ˈskrip-shən 

1

as in depiction

a vivid representation in words of someone or something

we immediately recognized the man from our cousin's description of him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depiction
• portrait
• portrayal
• picture
• definition
• sketch
• tale
• rendering
• account
• delineation
• explanation
• vignette
• story
• narrative
• report
• illustration
• chronicle
• anecdote
• portraiture
• demonstration
• yarn
• clarification
• exposition
• exemplification
• explication
• elucidation

2

as in type

a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common

fixes small appliances and other things of that description

Synonyms & Similar Words

• type
• kind
• sort
• stripe
• genre
• variety
• breed
• nature
• manner
• species
• class
• kidney
• order
• model
• category
• like
• feather
• persuasion
• strain
• ilk
• sample
• specimen
• group
• grouping
• family
• bracket
• suite
• set
• rank(s)
• grade
• division
• bunch
• lot

Synonym Chooser

How is the word description distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of description are character, kind, nature, sort, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might character be a better fit than description?

The meanings of character and description largely overlap; however, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When could kind be used to replace description?

While the synonyms kind and description are close in meaning, kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When would nature be a good substitute for description?

The words nature and description can be used in similar contexts, but nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When can sort be used instead of description?

In some situations, the words sort and description are roughly equivalent. However, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can type take the place of description?

The synonyms type and description are sometimes interchangeable, but type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of description

The initiative focuses on publishing concise, high-quality species descriptions to shorten the gap between discovery and formal recognition drastically. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025

Be sure to list any work or responsibilities that typically would not have been part of your job description. —Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025

Perozek already held that title, but after Lisa Thompson resigned as executive editor in July the job description of managing editor was rewritten to include duties that previously had been the executive editor's. —Bill Bowden, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2025

How does Ishmael, in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, carry me through his pages-long descriptions of the weird gunk inside a sperm whale’s head? —Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025